As many as 18.6 percent of women and 6.5 percent of men will face an eating disorder during their lifetime. However, only 50 percent of people will reach full recovery. Of the remaining 50 percent, 20 to 30 percent will remain chronically ill (1). 

Fortunately, early intervention and treatment can have a significant impact on symptom severity, quality of life, and mortality rates. However, a recent study review revealed that only 17 to 31 percent of individuals struggling with eating disorder symptoms seek eating disorder-specific treatment (2). This delay in treatment, often motivated by low rates of detection, treatment barriers, stigma, shame, and a lack of motivation, may lead to significant physical, psychological, and emotional repercussions.

In today’s blog post, let’s consider three benefits of early intervention and treatment when it comes to eating disorder recovery. 

A better understanding of the eating disorder

For many patients, their eating disorder feels out of their control. It often takes on a life of its own. Dietitian Elaina Efird, RDN, CD, CEDRD, CSSD even talks about an “eating disorder voice” in her YouTube videos. Thanks to early intervention and treatment, patients gain an understanding of the eating disorder from a psychological perspective. With professional help, they can identify its roots and also learn to recognize symptoms and concerning behaviors. 

Ultimately, an eating disorder is about more than food and eating habits; it’s a mental health issue that must be healed. Eating disorder treatment helps to address the problem from the inside out, reducing the chance of relapse and improving the possibility of full recovery.

Healthy coping mechanisms

For many patients, an eating disorder is a way to cope with stress, pain, or a lack of control. A big component of treatment, then, is to help patients identify and use healthy coping mechanisms instead. As they actively choose these responses over their eating disorder behaviors, they build strength and resilience, learning to say “no” to that powerful eating disorder voice. 

Identification and treatment of co-occurring conditions

Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorders, and other mental conditions often occur along with an eating disorder. One study even revealed that 94 percent of patients hospitalized for eating disorders also had a mental health mood disorder (3). In order to fully recover, both conditions must be addressed and treated. 

Ultimately, to increase early intervention efforts, it’s important to bridge the gap between symptom recognition and access to treatment services.

In Vermont, we are working tirelessly to catch the signs of an eating disorder earlier and offer more treatment options to our residents. In 2022, after the pandemic, an eating disorder workgroup was founded to study and improve access to treatment services. The goal is to train more experts to recognize the signs before patients reach a breaking point. To learn more about these efforts, click here. 

To talk to a professional about eating disorder treatment, please reach out to our staff or schedule an appointment at The Kahm Clinic today.

References

1. Mills R, Hyam L, Schmidt U. A Narrative Review of Early Intervention for Eating Disorders: Barriers and Facilitators. Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2023 Dec 5;14:217-235. doi: 10.2147/AHMT.S415698. PMID: 38074446; PMCID: PMC10710219.

2. Koreshe E, Paxton S, Miskovic-Wheatley J, Bryant E, Le A, Maloney D; National Eating Disorder Research Consortium; Touyz S, Maguire S. Prevention and early intervention in eating disorders: findings from a rapid review. J Eat Disord. 2023 Mar 10;11(1):38. doi: 10.1186/s40337-023-00758-3. PMID: 36899428; PMCID: PMC9999654.

3. NEDA (2022) Anxiety, Depression, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/anxiety-depression-obsessive-compulsive-disorder